Lahore, May 21, 2025 – The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially unveiled its 16-member squad for the highly anticipated three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, set to be played in Lahore.
However, the announcement came with several surprises, as key figures such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi have been left out of the lineup, sparking widespread discussion among cricket fans in both Pakistan and Bangladesh.
This T20I series will be the first under newly appointed Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, who is expected to bring fresh strategies and a performance-based selection ethos. According to the PCB, the squad was picked largely on the basis of standout performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, signaling a new direction in team composition.
Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the side as captain, with Shadab Khan serving as his deputy. The experienced trio of Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah has been retained, adding depth and firepower to Pakistan’s T20I unit.
Among the notable inclusions is aggressive left-handed opener Saim Ayub, who makes a welcome return after recovering from a serious ankle injury suffered earlier this year during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa. Ayub has since made a strong comeback in the PSL, reinforcing his credentials.
Also returning to the T20I setup is Sahibzada Farhan, who last represented Pakistan in 2018. Farhan’s explosive form in the PSL—amassing 394 runs at a strike rate of 154.50—has earned him a well-deserved recall. His performances will be closely watched as Pakistan gears up for a competitive series against Bangladesh.
The omission of high-profile players like Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen suggests a transitional phase, as Pakistan looks to explore new talent and combinations ahead of future T20I challenges.
The schedule for the Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I series will be released in the coming days, with excitement building for what promises to be an action-packed contest between two dynamic cricketing nations.
Pakistan T20I Squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub.